2014: Pakistan achieves significant rise in the ouput of scientific research

An independent research organization and international evaluation company, SCImago, analyzed and ranked the output of scientific institutions in countries worldwide. It monitored over 30,000 journals (internationally indexed research publications) which researchers consider to be one of the most credible databases of research in the world.

Pakistan moved up 16 rankings, from 43 in the world in 2013 to 27 in 2014, in country-specific scientific research outuput. This is the second highest increase of any country worldwide (Pakistan Today, August 31, 2014). The significant increase is primarily due to the government’s innovative higher education (university) reforms through the Higher Education Commission (HEC). HEC increased public sector university budgets for research over the past 5 years.

The funding was increased under the National Research Program for Universities (NRPU). In addition HEC, in collaboration with British Council, launched the three-year Higher Education Partnership program, International Strategic Partnerships in Research and Education (INSPIRE), in May 2010 for the fiscal year 2010-2011. This program supported 16 projects from different universities.

SCImago’s top 11 scientific research output countries (2013) were: (1) United States of America, (2) China, (3) United Kingdom, (4) Germany, (5) Japan, (6) France, (7) India, (8) Italy, (9) Canada, (10) Spain, and (11) Australia. Its website is not yet showing the 2014 country rankings.

http://www.scimagojr.com/

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